Forum Discussion

Mr_MrsSchleppro's avatar
Apr 27, 2014

Fridge not running on gas..

Hi all,been awhile. Last summer while on vacation we stopped and discovered our fridge was not running off of gas. I know the battery was dead( been needing replaced for a long time, not just discharged). Could this be the reason it wouldn't run on gas? Of course it sat all winter,we usually take it to Gatlinburg during Christmas but we stayed in a resort this year and left the TT at home, which is why I'm just getting around to checking it. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated..Thanks..Phil

8 Replies

  • I don't dry camp or boondock either. I just took the old one to NAPA and asked for an exact replacement. Works for me.
  • naturist wrote:
    Uh, wait a minute, have you been towing that rig with a known dead battery? If so, that is not safe AND it is highly illegal. Into the bargain, should there be an accident involving a breakaway, you will find your insurance will refuse to pay, leaving you hanging out to dry. That battery is necessary to power the trailer brakes in case it separates from your TV.


    Thanks guys. Wellll, last year was the first time the fridge gave us trouble so I would say..umm..lucky as far as the battery goes. But I'm doing my research now for a new battery before this years vacation, which will be from NC to Disney for 7days at Fort Wilderness. By the way, we have never dry camped or boondocked so what would be a good battery choice? I was thinking a standard-ish deep cycle/marine battery..any suggestions?/..and Thanks..Phil
  • Uh, wait a minute, have you been towing that rig with a known dead battery? If so, that is not safe AND it is highly illegal. Into the bargain, should there be an accident involving a breakaway, you will find your insurance will refuse to pay, leaving you hanging out to dry. That battery is necessary to power the trailer brakes in case it separates from your TV.
  • You need 12 volts for the control board, the igniter spark (think old time auto spark coil), and to keep the gas soleniod open to let the gas flow.
  • It needs a constant 12v power source to keep running too. Not just to start. It has a system board for it's "brain" and that's how they run. In the old days, with the manual pilot lights, you didn't need 12v..

    Good luck!

    Mitch
  • Mandalay Parr wrote:
    Yes, the battery. The refer needs 12volts to run.


    Thanks Jerry. I figured it needed the 12v to ignite,but wasn't sure if the line from the truck provided enough juice or not..Phil

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